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Umphreys McGee Celebrates Its First Decade; Jams with Matisyahu, Metzger and a Metal Bee Gees Cover Band

Umphreys McGee formed in late 1997 and played its first show in January of 1998 at South Bend, INs Bridget McGuire’s Filling Station. This New Years Eve the Chicago-based sextet will celebrate its first decade at the Windy Citys Aragon Ballroom by offering a video tribute to the first ten years of Umphreys McGee before the group rings in 2008. The group has also confirmed that The Wailers will open for them on

December 29 at the Aragon and fellow Chicago-legends Tortoise will supply support duties at the venue on December 30.
While at Manhattans Nokia Theater this weekend, Umphreys McGee also bonded with some local heroes. On Saturday Bustle in Your Hedgerow/American Babies guitarist Scott Metzger, who recently played some Led Zeppelin covers with Brendan Bayliss in Chicago, took the stage for a version of Immigrant Song. The number also featured some humorous stage antics from area concert promoter Jake Szufnarowski, who opened the evening with his The Bee Gees cover band Tragedy and took the stage with Umphreys McGee for the first time to showoff his considerable cowbell skills (Bayliss also played guitar with the metal Bee Gees tribute group during its opening set). Soon after, Matisyahu emerged to lead Umphreys McGee through a more serious version on his own Close Your Eyes. In addition, a day earlier bassist Tim Lefebvre replaced Ryan Stasik during a Jimmy Stewart improvisational segment. Umphreys McGee will appear at Rochester, NYs Harro East Ballroom this evening.